Air Conditioning for Chartering a Catamaran in San Blas, Panama: is it Worth it?
It is definitely recommended yearound if any in your group is sensitive to heat or if you are sailing during the summer (between April and December).
Air conditioning enabled catamarans require extensive maintenance in order to keep the systems up and running without any issues. Sailing the most remote location of the Caribbean such as the San Blas islands makes this a task only to be accomplished by dedicated, professional and knowledgeable captains.
Due to the fact described above, there are simply not many catamarans in San Blas that offer air conditioning and at the moment we can only offer our Salina 48 and our Leopard 50 as our only options, so make sure you book in advance any of these catamarans because they are the most requested of our fleet and their availability is often greatly reduced.
A/c will usually be run for the night so that guests can sleep with comfort and be ready for their San Blas sailing and adventure the next day. A well maintained ac will not only cool your cabin but also get rid of the moisture and humidity thus doubling the benefits in the hot tropical weather of the San Blas islands.
Cold is not compatible with tropical mosquitos and that is another advantage to charter a catamaran in San Blas with ac. Not that there are mosquitos in our anchorages, but if one was to sneak in your cabin, it would not stand a chance and directly go into shock... :)
Take a look at the rain and temperature stats for the San Blas region in Panama:

The hottest month in San Blas Islands is March when the average maximum temperature is 91°, average temperature is 82° and average minimum temperature is 75°.
The coolest month in San Blas Islands is January when the average maximum temperature is 90°, average temperature is 81° and average minimum temperature is 73°.

The most humid month in San Blas Islands is July with a dew point (an indicator of humidity) of 77° which can be uncomfortable and fairly oppressive unless you are on a beach or under a shade. At night you would most likely require airconditioning.
The least humid month in San Blas Islands is February with a dew point of 72° which is also very humid for most unless you are on a beach or under a shade. At night you would most likely require a fan.
Humidity and temperature in the central months can be easily handled if you choose the right catamaran that is of modern design and equipped with air conditioning. Trust us on this one.